I just saved my Dad from neoconservatism

I just had a 90 minute lunch with my Dad who's 61 and we mostly only talked about politics. He started by saying that he had a project for me, that he thought it was already part of our movement, but that he wanted to take a national poll... He asked me to start a website that questioned what people thought the role of government should be. I let him know that we were the only group that questioned the role of government. He agreed. My dad was a Bush, McCain, and finally Romney supporter... for the first time in my life, we had a conversation about politics and liberty, and he agreed with everything that I said.

We talked about economic philosophy, that being pro-business like Mitt Romney was not the same as being pro-free market like Ron Paul. We talked about the difference between Keynesian and Austrian economics. We talked about sound money and how we're robbed by the Federal Reserve. We talked about social policy, how allowing people to be free to make poor choices like doing drugs was not endorsing their behavior. We talked about the NDAA and the ever increasing power of the state. He's agreed with me in the past that we shouldn't be the policeman of the world.

I talked to him about the difference between Ron and Rand Paul. My dad thinks that libertarians have a messaging/marketing problem, but he likes Rand Paul. He said that conspiracy theories and people in tin foil hats damage our movement... he had previously come to one of our rallies and said those people turned him off to us. He mentioned a friend of mine who was respectful and wore a suit, saying that we should follow his example because he was willing to listen to him. I agreed.

When he dropped me off from lunch I asked him if he would like to borrow 'Economics in One Lesson' because of the impact it had on my economic thinking... and he was happy to borrow it. I've fought this battle for over 2 years, we've screamed at each other and had more than our fair share of unpleasant experiences while talking politics. Getting my dad to come around has meant more to me than anything else and while he still has some things to learn, I'm finally optimistic that he will. When I got home I broke down in tears of joy, because today, for the first time in my life, I can happily say my dad is awake, his mind is free... he's no longer a neocon.

"He said that conspiracy theories and people in tin foil hats damage our movement... he had previously come to one of our rallies and said those people turned him off to us. He mentioned a friend of mine who was respectful and wore a suit, saying that we should follow his example because he was willing to listen to him."

If you are trying to educate the mainstream "sheeple", do you think the best way to do it is by looking like a homeless person and bopping them over the head with the message and a bullhorn?

Or, is it to EMULATE RON PAUL, and be a well-groomed and patient AMBASSADOR?

Do you drink from a firehose? No.

So, why do you assume that the mainstream sheeple would? Because when you are being an impatient radical, that's how you feed them.

And some interesting perspective as you gave us an "outsider's" view of the liberty movement. While most of us here get the conspiracy theories, and accept some of them to a greater or lesser degree (heck, even the history of the Federal Reserve can sound like a far-out conspiracy theory to those who are hearing it the first time), we no longer have the eyes of a stranger to liberty; we forget how hard it is for them to process all this new information. For many it's too much! That said, I like how you stuck to the basic tenets of libertarianism without getting into issues that could have really turned your dad off.

As one who does believe a fair share of conspiracy theories - I don't trust our government - I will remember your dad when I'm talking to people and leave off some of those things in favor of things such as sound money, Keynesian vs. Austrian economics, the constitution, and foreign policy. Thanks again for sharing here!

—

When the American spirit was in its youth, the language of America was different: Liberty, sir, was the primary object. - Patrick Henry

My dad bought Atlas Shrugged the other day, and didn't tell me till just now when I saw him reading it! So happy. I started him on Bill cooper's pale horse, so he is up for almost anything now :)

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“Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy...." Adams. http://ronpaulgirl.comhttp://blogtalkradio.c

You winning over your dad is more important than any march, protest or moment bomb. Don't get me wrong i think all those things are important, but my point is, this r3VOLution will be won in our living rooms one conversion at a time.

I had an Obama staffer in complete shock and disbelief when I was talking to him... usually they have a lot to say. He was speechless. I pointed out his collectivist platitudes (saying "we" and "us") and asked him to only speak in terms of individual liberty (I, you and me)... He had an extremely difficult time consolidating his views once I did that. It made him think really hard because then it became something personal between the two of us.

Wow, such an awesome story, you brought a lump to my throat. Although my 83 year old mother wrote in Ron Paul the last two cycles, I was never able to get my father's ear and this year he passed away, so you brought a tear to my eye. BTW I am almost as old as your Dad and I was working on my parents! Ironic.

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If my need to be RIGHT is greater than my desire for TRUTH, then I will not recognize it when it arrives ~ Libertybelle

Thanks for sharing that. My son is almost 20 and is now fully behind the liberty movement, but it wasn't always that way. He and I have had literally hundreds of conversations that made the difference.

Asking questions to stir thought is often the best means of persuasion. Good job!

Honestly, I had to grow as well... I used to use what my dad called the "sledgehammer" approach. He said a lot of libertarians come off as too brash and mean, including myself for a while. I figured out who in the liberty movement he actually liked... Andrew Napolitano, whom my dad fondly refers to as "The Judge". We would watch freedom watch together until it got canceled. After that, I ended up being very active in the Paul campaign, flew out and spent weeks volunteering in Iowa, New Hampshire, SC and my home state of NC. I told my parents I wanted them to understand what I was doing so I had them watch 'For Liberty' with me. That didn't really work, but at least they knew what I was up to.

Over the next few months I argued with them constantly about all sorts of our issues. Then I gave my dad 'End the Fed' to read but he only got through about 3 chapters before he got fed up and put it down. After that I started asking him questions instead of starting off by telling him things. I got him to think about his views and explain them to me. After which, I would share my thoughts on it. I also wrote some articles on the Examiner (http://tinyurl.com/d393hyf) which he ended up reading. Eventually it got to the point where I couldn't even talk to him about Mitt Romney because he'd just get pissed off. I went down the the RP rally in Tampa and after I returned I let my dad know that I was in the RP video on CSPAN. I told him about all the drama at the convention. We ended up watching a lot of videos together and talking for a while.

During the debates, I think he may have started to notice that what I was talking about all along...that Romney and Obama were the same, was partially true. After the election, I didn't say a word to him about Romney's loss. I did let him know that I was happy that Romney lost because we'll have another chance for liberty in 2016. Then he started noticing the Republicans doing things like Democrats... talking about raising taxes and the debt ceiling. At the end of the day I don't really know what did it... persistence I guess. I'm just happy he's come around.

I may get allot of criticism here with this statement, but I am convinced that as a Christian, if you dont understand and agree with Ron Paul's views and beliefs, you dont truly understand Christ and his teachings.

And I'm not saying you HAVE to be a Christian to agree. All I'm saying is that Ron Paul's beliefs and views are the same as the teachings of Christ. Not judging any of our atheist or other non-Christian libertarian friends. I love you all the same. :-)

It seems so hopeless at times at the beginning, and the beginning can take years. Your parents are not just hard headed, they are scared because it means accepting a totally different worldview than what they believe in. (This is why we are all conspiracy theorists to the sheeple, when they are the ones who really believe the conspiracy.) When you really REALLY honestly believe you are right things that go against your beliefs HURT you and you dont want to accept them. You even actively seek out justifying your views. And sometimes when you start to believe that what you think may not be true, you even shy away from researching more into it. Everything I'm saying is based on my own experience and how I finally woke up.

But truth and persistence is the answer. Eventually when you feel defeated and your only option is to accept that what you believed was a lie, you slowly come to terms with the truth. This is the first crack, and the most important crack in my opinion. Once this happens, you instantly put more faith in the person(s) who planted this idea into your head, and you are more accepting of what they have to say. Then as you remember the other things that have been planted you are more open to accepting the idea that you could also be wrong about those things too. And plus, the first time is the toughest of discovering you have been lied to, betrayed, and violated. It's pretty damn painful and angering, and this is what they dont want to have to accept. What I'm trying to say is it's easier to accept this feeling as you discover this about subsequent truths. Eventually you become angry as you connect all the dots. This is is when you awaken and things all of a sudden fall into place and make sense.

You must pound away. I like that sledgehammer analogy. I guess this method *may work, but it sure takes allot of time and this methodology is very hard to change if thats the kind of person you are, but eventually things will sink in and they will come to terms with the truth. I pray your parents come around soon.

I think the hardest thing for me is the social aspect, in your circle of friends and family, because once your awake, you dont go back. And if you dont go back their will be many differences and disagreements, and mocking... But you know your responsibility.

"He mentioned a friend of mine who was respectful and wore a suit, saying that we should follow his example because he was willing to listen to him. I agreed."

ROFL. Nice.

It's fun watching a Neocon melt in front of a respectful Libertarian wearing a suit, and if you don't respect people, why bother. All their instincts become jumbled, and they stop looking at the man, and start listening to the words. Liberty sells, because people know truth and justice when they hear it.

My father is a professor who happens to teach terrorism classes. Let me tell you it is a major up hill battle I have been facing. Especially anything related to our foreign policy. Them pesky terrorists gonna come get me in my sleep. Glad your father is awake.

—

"Patriotism is more closely linked to dissent than it is to conformity and a blind desire for safety and security." - Dr. Ron Paul

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